Muscle atrophy and leg length discrepancies in pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
M. Vostrejs and J. R. Hollister
National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
In 32 children with pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, we
studied residual muscle atrophy and leg length discrepancy after the
arthritis had entered remission. Children under the age of 3 years at
disease onset had significantly more muscle atrophy and bone overgrowth
than children whose disease began after the age of 3 years. These residua
have cosmetic and functional significance, and new methods of treatment
will be necessary to prevent or reverse the sequelae in a form of arthritis
previously thought to have a benign outcome.
